Business Analytics

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot Inc. reported Monday that it swung to a profit of $12.3 million in the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a loss of $108.6 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue edged up to $2.97 billion in the quarter, from $2.96 billion last year, missing Wall Street’s expected break-even on $3 billion in sales. Same-store sales dropped 5%, due in large part to a move away from promotions to shore up profitability, said the company.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. reported Monday that profit for the quarter ended Feb. 3 rose 13% to $322 million, compared with $285 million a year earlier. Results topped Wall Street expectations and demonstrated an upward consumer swing in home-improvement projects.

Quarterly sales increased 11% to $11.6 billion from $10.5 billion, beating analysts’ expectations of $11.35 billion in revenue. Same-store sales rose 3.4%.

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Dillard's ended its fiscal year with higher income and increased sales, and heads into 2012 on the heels of a record-setting performance.

The company reported income for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 28 of $141.5 million, or $2.77 per share. For the prior year fourth quarter, Dillard's reported net income of $109.6 million, or $1.75 per share.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Following a substantial decline in net income for its fourth quarter, OfficeMax is keeping costs in mind by reducing its retail store count in the upcoming year.

For the next fiscal year, the company said it plans a net reduction in retail store count with up to 35 store closures and one to two store openings in the United States, as well as eight to nine store openings and one to two store closures in Mexico.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway posted a drop in quarterly net income amid higher commodity costs.

The company reported net income of $215.6 million (67 cents per diluted share) for the fourth quarter of 2011. In the fourth quarter of 2010, Safeway reported net income of $229.6 million (62 cents per diluted share).

Total sales increased 6.2% to $13.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011 from $12.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010, helped by higher fuel sales and a 1.5% increase in identical-store sales (excluding fuel).

A body in motion tends to stay in motion and that appears to be the case with Sam’s Club where a strong fourth-quarter performance is expected to continue in 2012 under the leadership of new president and CEO Rosalind Brewer.

The former Walmart store operations executive took the helm from outgoing Sam’s president and CEO Brian Cornell three weeks ago and is looking to build on the momentum he initiated and was evident in fourth quarter results reported earlier this week.

Walmart’s U.S. stores regained customer traffic during the fourth quarter and president and CEO Mike Duke said the company had a great Christmas, but it didn’t feel that way to investors who couldn’t dump shares of the company fast enough after earnings were released on Tuesday.

Total company sales for the quarter increase by 5.8% to $122.3 billion and profits from continuing operations increased 3.4% to nearly $5.2 billion while earnings per share increased 7.5% to $1.44 from $1.34 if one time gains are excluded from both reporting periods.

Little Rock, Ark. -- Dillard’s Inc. reported Thursday that profit for the fourth quarter rose to $141.5 million from $109.6 million a year earlier, beating analysts’ expectations.

Sales edged up 2% to $1097 billion. Same-store sales rose 3%.
 

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. reported Thursday that net income for the fourth quarter plummeted 40% on higher costs and aggressive discounting during the holiday selling season.

Net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 was $218 million, compared with $365 million a year earlier. Sales dipped to $4.28 billion in the quarter, from $4.36 billion, matching Wall Street estimates.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Regency Centers has announced the installation of the company’s first solar energy system at the Shops at Saugus in Saugus, Mass. The 18,740-sq.-ft. photovoltaic array, built with 1,064 rooftop panels, will generate an estimated 250 KW of renewable energy annually. The zero-emission power source will supply nearly 65% of the power needed by the center’s grocer Trader Joe’s.